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stamp computers running on 3.3 V supply? — Parallax Forums

stamp computers running on 3.3 V supply?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-08-21 16:59 in General Discussion
Does parallax has plans to make basicstamps that run on CMOS
processors requiring 3.3 Volts only. Is that a big jump from the
current basic stamp product lineup? Has anyone got experience with or
aware of stamp computers ( or single board computers)that have
similar capability as basic stamps (not fancy high power single
boards) but run on 3.3 Volts? Thanks .
Mohammed

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-20 19:05
    At 05:29 PM 8/20/03 +0000, you wrote:
    >Does parallax has plans to make basicstamps that run on CMOS
    >processors requiring 3.3 Volts only. Is that a big jump from the
    >current basic stamp product lineup? Has anyone got experience with or
    >aware of stamp computers ( or single board computers)that have
    >similar capability as basic stamps (not fancy high power single
    >boards) but run on 3.3 Volts? Thanks .
    >Mohammed
    I'm surprised someone isn't using a small cascade style voltage
    multiplier to drive JUST the Stamp in a situation where 5V is not
    available. I know in the past parallax used a 16Cxx as the core
    processor in the basic Stamp. Some of the 16Cxx processors are
    designed to operate at 2V or less. I am not sure what low voltage
    Chip options are available with the current Stamp processor.

    -Beau Schwabe
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-20 19:07
    >Does parallax has plans to make basicstamps that run on CMOS
    >processors requiring 3.3 Volts only. Is that a big jump from the
    >current basic stamp product lineup? Has anyone got experience with or
    >aware of stamp computers ( or single board computers)that have
    >similar capability as basic stamps (not fancy high power single
    >boards) but run on 3.3 Volts? Thanks .
    >Mohammed

    The original BS1 chip can be run at 4mhz on a 2.7 to 6 volt supply,
    provided you leave off the reset chip or provide one that resets at
    <~2.7 volts.

    The original BS2 uses an external reset chip, however, the PIC16C57HS
    is only good at 20mhz between 4.5 and 5.5 volts.

    The SX based Stamps use the reset circuit that is built into the
    chip, configured for a 5 volt supply, but the chip itself could
    operate at lower voltages, down to 2.7 volts with proper choice of
    the reset. I doubt if Parallax would want to muddy the waters
    though, by tinkering with it.

    -- Tracy
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-21 15:56
    Thanks Tracy and Beau for your replies.
    Does anyone from Parallax has any comment on my question?

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Tracy Allen <tracy@e...> wrote:
    > >Does parallax has plans to make basicstamps that run on CMOS
    > >processors requiring 3.3 Volts only. Is that a big jump from the
    > >current basic stamp product lineup? Has anyone got experience with
    or
    > >aware of stamp computers ( or single board computers)that have
    > >similar capability as basic stamps (not fancy high power single
    > >boards) but run on 3.3 Volts? Thanks .
    > >Mohammed
    >
    > The original BS1 chip can be run at 4mhz on a 2.7 to 6 volt supply,
    > provided you leave off the reset chip or provide one that resets at
    > <~2.7 volts.
    >
    > The original BS2 uses an external reset chip, however, the
    PIC16C57HS
    > is only good at 20mhz between 4.5 and 5.5 volts.
    >
    > The SX based Stamps use the reset circuit that is built into the
    > chip, configured for a 5 volt supply, but the chip itself could
    > operate at lower voltages, down to 2.7 volts with proper choice of
    > the reset. I doubt if Parallax would want to muddy the waters
    > though, by tinkering with it.
    >
    > -- Tracy
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-21 16:15
    Hello,

    Thanks to everyone for their responses on this topic.
    I checked with Parallax Engineering and here is the response to your
    3.3v question:

    We have considered producing a Stamp-type device that runs on 3.3 volts.
    Silicon fabrication processes are becoming smaller and smaller all the
    time, resulting in more microcontrollers that require a maximum of 3.3
    volts, so it is very likely that we will move this direction as well.
    It is uncertain about just when this will happen, however, because we
    are still in the developing stages. There is certainly no product
    offerings we have right now that fit your requests.

    Erik Wood
    ewood@p...
    Parallax, Inc.
    599 Menlo Dr., Suite #100
    Rocklin, CA 95765
    (916) 624-8003 Fax
    (888) 512-1024 Sales
    www.parallax.com


    Original Message
    From: mohammedrasiq [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=kcvDumnpgrYGexyBSJhxOXGcHYPNKzed6TfLVMXggyeLb5Yxsq66Mpnty8OWAIn9JIkhY_FosrAkeTqUhqFWkF0]mohammedrasiq@y...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 7:57 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: stamp computers running on 3.3 V supply?


    Thanks Tracy and Beau for your replies.
    Does anyone from Parallax has any comment on my question?

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Tracy Allen <tracy@e...> wrote:
    > >Does parallax has plans to make basicstamps that run on CMOS
    > >processors requiring 3.3 Volts only. Is that a big jump from the
    > >current basic stamp product lineup? Has anyone got experience with
    or
    > >aware of stamp computers ( or single board computers)that have
    > >similar capability as basic stamps (not fancy high power single
    > >boards) but run on 3.3 Volts? Thanks .
    > >Mohammed
    >
    > The original BS1 chip can be run at 4mhz on a 2.7 to 6 volt supply,
    > provided you leave off the reset chip or provide one that resets at
    > <~2.7 volts.
    >
    > The original BS2 uses an external reset chip, however, the
    PIC16C57HS
    > is only good at 20mhz between 4.5 and 5.5 volts.
    >
    > The SX based Stamps use the reset circuit that is built into the
    > chip, configured for a 5 volt supply, but the chip itself could
    > operate at lower voltages, down to 2.7 volts with proper choice of
    > the reset. I doubt if Parallax would want to muddy the waters
    > though, by tinkering with it.
    >
    > -- Tracy


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-21 16:59
    In a message dated 8/21/2003 8:03:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
    mohammedrasiq@y... writes:
    Thanks Tracy and Beau for your replies.
    Does anyone from Parallax has any comment on my question?
    You may want to consider a different uP. The SX sold by Parallax (not BS2SX)
    can be run at 3.3 volts. HOWEVER, this chip is not nearly as easy to program
    as the basic stamps.

    http://www.parallax.com/sx/index.asp

    This SX has some big advantages over the Basic Stamps, and some disadvantages.

    Advantages:
    cost - $10 including resonator
    speed - much faster. Your basic BS2 can wait for the status of an input pin
    in a loop, and take about 500 to 800 uS, where the SX does the same thing in 60
    nS, yes, nanoseconds.

    Disadvantages:
    Compared to PBasic, programming the SX is much harder, but even a dummy like
    me learned how to do it when the speed of the Basic Stamps would not meet my
    requirements.
    Smaller circle of users, so the internet support forum is smaller.
    Every thing is written in assembly. For example with the basic stamp you have
    cool commands like SHIFTOUT. To do the same with the SX is a nightmare by
    comparison (but I got it working after about 4 hours!)

    Ken


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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